Route · SMF → ORD · 2020–2025 BTS data
Sacramento to Chicago
The SMF–ORD corridor (Sacramento, CA → Chicago, IL) runs ahead of the national average, served by 4 carriers across roughly 1,781 miles.
Data updated 2026-06-13
- 85.8%
- On-time
- +6.8 pts
- vs US avg
- 86 min
- Delay when late
- 6,001
- Flights
Cancelled
1.1%
Best Month
Feb 2025 95%
Worst Month
Jul 2025 54%
Distance
1,781 mi
Carriers
4
Monthly Performance
Recent 24 months of route data.
| Period | Flights | Delayed | Cancelled | Diverted | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | 75 | 16 | 0 | 0 | UA |
| Nov 2025 | 91 | 21 | 3 | 1 | UA,AA |
| Oct 2025 | 124 | 21 | 1 | 0 | AA,UA |
| Sep 2025 | 117 | 21 | 0 | 1 | UA,AA |
| Aug 2025 | 120 | 40 | 0 | 0 | AA,UA |
| Jul 2025 | 123 | 57 | 1 | 4 | AA,UA |
| Jun 2025 | 120 | 39 | 1 | 0 | AA,UA |
| May 2025 | 124 | 21 | 0 | 0 | AA,UA |
| Apr 2025 | 117 | 16 | 0 | 0 | UA,AA |
| Mar 2025 | 64 | 10 | 0 | 2 | UA |
| Feb 2025 | 56 | 3 | 0 | 1 | UA |
| Jan 2025 | 74 | 9 | 0 | 0 | AA,UA |
| Dec 2024 | 88 | 13 | 0 | 0 | AA,UA |
| Nov 2024 | 87 | 9 | 0 | 0 | UA,AA |
| Oct 2024 | 109 | 9 | 1 | 1 | UA,AA |
| Sep 2024 | 115 | 14 | 2 | 0 | UA,AA |
| Aug 2024 | 122 | 21 | 4 | 1 | AA,UA |
| Jul 2024 | 122 | 30 | 5 | 1 | AA,UA |
| Jun 2024 | 118 | 17 | 3 | 0 | AA,UA |
| May 2024 | 122 | 30 | 4 | 1 | AA,UA |
| Apr 2024 | 108 | 19 | 0 | 0 | AA,UA |
| Mar 2024 | 62 | 8 | 0 | 0 | UA |
| Feb 2024 | 59 | 6 | 0 | 0 | UA |
| Jan 2024 | 76 | 8 | 2 | 0 | AA,UA |
Cancellation Rate
1.1%
27 of 2,393 flights
Diversion Rate
0.5%
13 of 2,393 flights
Explore origin & destination
On-time and delay data for the airports this route connects.
SMF - Sacramento
Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Sacramento, CA.
Origin airport →ORD - Chicago
Full on-time, delay-cause, and seasonal performance for Chicago, IL.
Destination airport →Compare the two airports
See SMF and ORD side by side on delays, cancellations, and reliability.
Open comparison tool →Similar routes
Other BTS-tracked routes with comparable performance or trip length to SMF–ORD.
Routes with a similar on-time rate
What the Data Says About SMF to ORD
Sacramento to Chicago (SMF to ORD) is one of the more dependable pairings in the BTS On-Time Performance dataset: a 85.8% on-time rate across 6,001 flights, with delays that do happen averaging 85.7 minutes. The corridor runs roughly 1,781 miles and is served by 4 carriers. Over the most recent 24 months, 27 of 2,393 flights were cancelled (1.1%) and 13 diverted (0.5%).
The monthly split is wide on this route: Feb 2025 posted the strongest performance at 95% on-time, while Jul 2025 came in at just 54% - a 41-point swing worth factoring into travel timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are flights delayed from SMF to ORD? ▼
What is the cancellation rate for SMF to ORD? ▼
How far is the flight from SMF to ORD? ▼
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Flight Guides
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Data source
Data Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), On-Time Performance Data. Statistics reflect cumulative performance across all available reporting periods.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainFlights is rendered directly from BTS On-Time Performance data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this specific route's on-time performance and monthly trend, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.